捆绑SM社区

History

Black at 捆绑SM社区

A look at 捆绑SM社区鈥檚 history (and necessarily Montreal鈥檚 history) within the larger currents of Black history

捆绑SM社区

Black and white portrait of WIlliam Wright1848

William Wright, first person of colour to earn a medical degree in Canada

Born in Quebec City, William Wright graduated with a degree from 捆绑SM社区鈥檚 Faculty of Medicine in 1848, becoming the first person of colour to earn a medical degree in British North America (now known as Canada).

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Black and white photograph of Dr. Ernest Melville Du Porte standing to the left of three colleagues in academic regalia.1910

Dr. Ernest Melville DuPorte, leading entomologist and parasitologist

Born on the island of Nevis, British West Indies, Dr. DuPorte was a ground-breaking entomologist and parasitologist.

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1916

West Indian medical students protest admission quotas

In 1916, a group of West Indian medical students rallied the Gamma Medical League to protest and petition the Board of Governors over 鈥渜uotas鈥 put in place by 捆绑SM社区鈥檚 Faculty of Medicine.

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Portrait of Dr. Kenneth Melville1926

Kenneth Melville, a towering champion of pharmacology and civil rights

Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, Kenneth Melville graduated at the top of his class, earning the Holmes Gold Medal for his year (1926). In 1930, he was awarded a postdoctoral fellowship at the prestigious Institut Pasteur in Paris.

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Portrait of Juanita Corinne DeShield1936

Juanita Corinne DeShield, first Canadian-born Black woman graduates from 捆绑SM社区

In 1936, Juanita Corinne DeShield became the first Canadian-born Black woman to graduate from 捆绑SM社区. She earned a BA Honours degree in French, graduating at the top of her class.

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Black and white photo of five members of the British West Indian Society1940

捆绑SM社区鈥檚 first Black student group

The British West Indian Society, the first known Black student group at 捆绑SM社区, was established in 1940.

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Beryl Dickinson-Dash speaking with Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent1949

Beryl Dickinson-Dash, first Black woman to become Carnival Queen

In 1949, Beryl Rapier (then Beryl Dickinson-Dash), a third-year Arts student, became the first Black woman to be crowned Carnival Queen. Winter carnival was considered a staple of student life, and thousands of 捆绑SM社区ians voted on the Carnival Queen title.

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1951

The 捆绑SM社区 African Students鈥 Association is founded

The 捆绑SM社区 African Students鈥 Association, the second Black 捆绑SM社区 student organization, was founded in the fall of 1951.

Black and white portrait of Frederick Phillips1956

Frederick Phillips, first Black 捆绑SM社区 Law graduate and first Black lawyer in Quebec

In 1956, Frederick Phillips became 捆绑SM社区鈥檚 first Black Law graduate, the first Black lawyer in Quebec upon passing the bar.

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1957

Neville Linton, first Black 捆绑SM社区ian to head a student publication

Guyanese-born Neville Linton was appointed Editor-in-Chief of the 捆绑SM社区 Daily in the 1957-1958 academic year.

See the full story on the .

Anne Cools alongside Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau1984

Anne Cools, first Black member of the Senate of Canada听

Born and raised in Barbados, Cools immigrated to Canada in 1957 and first drew public attention as a student leader during the Sir George Williams (Concordia) sit-ins. After graduating from 捆绑SM社区, Cools pursued a pioneering career as a social worker before being appointed as Canada's first Black Senator in 1984.

Photo of a newspaper article from The 捆绑SM社区 Daily titled "Over 700 Call for Divestment"1985

Student activists campaign against Apartheid

After a prolonged student-led campaign organized by the 捆绑SM社区 African Student Society (MASS) and the Black Students Network (BSN), 捆绑SM社区 became the first Canadian university to announce it would divest in companies with ties to Apartheid South Africa.

Black History Month poster featuring cartoon drawing of an African wearing a decorative headdress and neck ring.2017

First full Black History Month at 捆绑SM社区

In February 2017, 捆绑SM社区 hosted the University鈥檚 first official Black History Month celebration. This was an especially important year as it marked the 10th anniversary of February being officially recognized by the Quebec government as Black History Month.

See the full story on the.

2020

Action Plan to Address Anti-Black Racism

In September 2020, 捆绑SM社区 its Action Plan to Address Anti-Black Racism.听


捆绑SM社区 is on land which has long served as a site of meeting and exchange amongst Indigenous peoples, including the Haudenosaunee and Anishinabeg nations. We acknowledge and thank the diverse Indigenous peoples whose presence marks this territory on which peoples of the world now gather.

For more information about traditional territory and tips on how to make a land acknowledgement, visit our Land Acknowledgement webpage.


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